Book 2 ~ No Sweet Perfume Ever Tortured Me More Than This
Arabia ~ 773 AD
"This desert rose
Each of her veils,
a secret promise
This desert flower
No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this"
~Desert Rose, Sting
Chapter 1 ~ The Belly Dancer Girl
Jakeem has given me a simple task: Assassinate the Prince. The hope is that in so doing, the ailing Maharajah's health will fail and he too will fall victim. He assures me it will lead our people to the glory we deserve. Jakeem has a bad habit of exaggerating. I cannot see how this will aide our people, but he is convinced, and as he is our leader, I must obey. The great feast will be when we strike...
"Jakeem, is it wise to entrust a woman with such a task?" a voice hissed behind her. Eveska turned slowly, glancing behind her. Her dark eyes met Jakeem's, seemingly giving her permission. Without hesitation, she spun around, unsheathing her duel scimitars, stopping them to either side of the scarred man's throat.
"I believe," Jakeem said with a chuckle, "she's more than capable." He nodded to Eveska, and she withdrew her blades with a smirk. The scarred man touched his fingers gently to where the blades had just been, finding his skin unscathed for once. He glared nonetheless, dropping back behind Jakeem and the woman, into the rest of the tribe that followed. "Well, I see I won't have to worry about you, will I?"
"Of course not, Brother," Eveska replied. "Besides, when have you ever worried about anyone other than yourself?"
"I worry about others," he replied with a mock offence. "I worry all the time that my tribe will not make it back from their daily chores. If they don't make it back, I don't get paid." His face broke into a grin, as Eveska rolled her eyes.
"So what's your plan to get us into the palace?"
"'Tis simple, my dear sister. The Maharajah loves traveling acts. We poise as such, and they will let us in the gates without so much as batting an eyelash."
"And now, more importantly, how do we get out?" Jakeem remained silent for a long moment before stating, "I
hadn't quite gotten that far yet."
Eveska stopped, turning to her brother.
"You mean to tell me you're planning on leaving me for dead?" Her hand flew to her dagger, though she wouldn't have the gall to use it on her flesh and blood...unless he answered yes.
"No, no. Of course not," Jakeem said quickly. "I just haven't figured that part out yet. It's not like you're going to slay him in front of the entire court."
"It doesn't matter *where* I slay him," she hissed. "If we're anywhere near that palace when they find him, we're all good as dead."
"Don't worry," Jakeem said, with a shrug. "We'll have all night to fly from here. No one is likely to find him until dawn...unless they smell the stench of royalty." An uproar was heard from the tribe behind, but Eveska could not share in their joy. Hers was the only other life at stake.